IGP and Muslim Leaders meet over Raids on Kampala Mosques

The Inspector General of Police-IGP General Edward Kale Kayihura has Thursday met top officials at Uganda Muslim Supreme Council-UMSC over the recent Police raids at Nakasero and Kiwatule Mosques.

The IGP met the first Deputy Mufti, Sheikh Abdullah Ssemambo and Second Deputy Mufti, Sheikh Muhammad Waiswa at Old Kampala Mosque, the seat of UMSC this morning, according to UMSC Spokesperson, Haji Nsereko Mutumba.

Mutumba told reporters later that during the meeting, the Muslim leaders expressed concern by the manner in which, the Nakasero and Kiwatule Mosque operations were conducted, saying Muslim leaders should have been notified.

Operatives from the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force (JATT) raided Nakasero Mosque on Plot 4 Snay bin Amin Street in Kampala in the wee hours of December 27th, 2016. They ransacked the mosque and picked up 13 people who were found in the mosque. They also claimed to have recovered several bows, spears, arrows and live ammunition, a charge Muslims have vehemently dismissed.

On December 30th, 2016 Police also raided Kiwatule mosque where visiting Pakistan preachers were picked up and later released. Police apologised for the raid, saying they had acted on fake intelligence. According to Mutumba, Kayihura reportedly apologized over the manner, in which his commanders handled the operations.

Kayihura would later tell journalists that police investigators raided Nakasero mosque on advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution-DPP that there could be some bad elements hiding in the mosque. Mutumba also says they complained to Kayihura about several Muslims being held in police custody without appearing in court.

Addressing journalists shortly after the meeting, Kayihura said he had visited the UMSC headquarters as part of the community policing program.